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Hermiston； young； graceful； well spoken； but always cold； stirred the
maidens of the county with the charm of Byronism when Byronism was
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new； it may be questioned whether his destiny might not even yet have
been modified。 It may be questioned； and I think it should be doubted。 It
was in his horoscope to be parsimonious of pain to himself； or of the
chance of pain； even to the avoidance of any opportunity of pleasure； to
have a Roman sense of duty； an instinctive aristocracy of manners and
taste； to be the son of Adam Weir and Jean Rutherford。
2。 KIRSTIE
Kirstie was now over fifty； and might have sat to a sculptor。 Long of
limb； and still light of foot； deep…breasted； robust…loined； her golden hair
not yet mingled with any trace of silver； the years had but caressed and
embellished her。 By the lines of a rich and vigorous maternity； she seemed
destined to be the bride of heroes and the mother of their children； and
behold； by the iniquity of fate； she had passed through her youth alone；
and drew near to the confines of age； a childless woman。 The tender
ambitions that she had received at birth had been； by time and
disappointment； diverted into a certain barren zeal of industry and fury of
interference。 She carried her thwarted ardours into housework； she washed
floors with her empty heart。 If she could not win the love of one with love；
she must dominate all by her temper。 Hasty； wordy； and wrathful； she had
a drawn quarrel with most of her neighbours； and with the others not much
more than armed neutrality。 The grieve's wife had been 〃sneisty〃； the sister
of the gardener who kept house for him had shown herself 〃upsitten〃； and
she wrote to Lord Hermiston about once a year demanding the discharge
of the offenders； and justifying the demand by much wealth of detail。 For
it must not be supposed that the quarrel rested with the wife and did not
take in the husband also … or with the gardener's sister； and did not speedily
include the gardener himself。 As the upshot of all this petty quarrelling and
intemperate speech； she was practically excluded （like a lightkeeper on his
tower） from the comforts of human association； except with her own
indoor drudge； who； being but a lassie and entirely at her mercy； must
submit to the shifty weather of 〃the mistress's〃 moods without complaint；
and be willing to take buffets or caresses according to the temper of the
hour。 To Kirstie； thus situate and in the Indian summer of her heart； which
was slow to submit to age； the gods sent this equivocal good thing of
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Archie's presence。 She had known him in the cradle and paddled him
when he misbehaved； and yet； as she had not so much as set eyes on him
since he was eleven and had his last serious illness； the tall； slender；
refined； and rather melancholy young gentleman of twenty came upon her
with the shock of a new acquaintance。 He was 〃Young Hermiston；〃 〃the
laird himsel' 〃： he had an air of distinctive superiority； a cold straight
glance of his black eyes； that abashed the woman's tantrums in the
beginning； and therefore the possibility of any quarrel was excluded。 He
was new； and therefore immediately aroused her curiosity； he was reticent；
and kept it awake。 And lastly he was dark and she fair； and he was male
and she female； the everlasting fountains of interest。
Her feeling partook of the loyalty of a clanswoman； the hero…worship
of a maiden aunt； and the idolatry due to a god。 No matter what he had
asked of her； ridiculous or tragic； she would have done it and joyed to do it。
Her passion； for it was nothing less； entirely filled her。 It was a rich
physical pleasure to make his bed or light his lamp for him when he was
absent； to pull off his wet boots or wait on him at dinner when he returned。
A young man who should have so doted on the idea； moral and physical；
of any woman； might be properly described as being in love； head and
heels； and would have behaved himself accordingly。 But Kirstie … though
her heart leaped at his coming footsteps … though； when he patted her
shoulder； her face brightened for the day … had not a hope or thought
beyond the present moment and its perpetuation to the end of time。 Till the
end of time she would have had nothing altered； but still continue
delightedly to serve her idol； and be repaid （say twice in the month） with a
clap on the shoulder。
I have said her heart leaped … it is the accepted phrase。 But rather；
when she was alone in any chamber of the house； and heard his foot
passing on the corridors； something in her bosom rose slowly until her
breath was suspended； and as slowly fell again with a deep sigh； when the
steps had passed and she was disappointed of her eyes' desire。 This
perpetual hunger and thirst of his presence kept her all day on the alert。
When he went forth at morning； she would stand and follow him with
admiring looks。 As it grew late and drew to the time of his return； she
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would steal forth to a corner of the policy wall and be seen standing there
sometimes by the hour together； gazing with shaded eyes； waiting the
exquisite and barren pleasure of his view a mile off on the mountains。
When at night she had trimmed and gathered the fire； turned down his bed；
and laid out his night…gear … when there was no more to be done for the
king's pleasure； but to remember him fervently in her usually very tepid
prayers； and go to bed brooding upon his perfections； his future career； and
what she should give him the next day for dinner … there still remained
before her one more opportunity； she was still to take in the tray and say
good…night。 Sometimes Archie would glance up from his book with a
preoccupied nod and a perfunctory salutation which was in truth a
dismissal； sometimes … and by degrees more often … the volume would be
laid aside； he would meet her coming with a look of relief； and the
conversation would be engaged； last out the supper； and be prolonged till
the small hours by the waning fire。 It was no wonder that Archie was fond
of company after his solitary days； and Kirstie； upon her side； exerted all
the arts of her vigorous nature to ensnare his attention。 She would keep
back some piece of news during dinner to be fired off with the entrance of
the supper tray； and form as it were the LEVER DE RIDEAU of the
evening's entertainment。 Once he had heard her tongue wag； she made
sure of the result。 From one subject to another she moved by insidious
transitions； fearing the least silence； fearing almost to give him time for an
answer lest it should slip into a hint of separation。 Like so many peop